Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) has added SafetyDirect by Bendix CVS as an option in its Detroit Assurance 5.0 suite of camera- and radar-based safety systems.

The company announced the suite as it introduced the first SAE Level 2 automated truck in series production in North America with the latest enhancements to the Freightliner new Cascadia. Level 2 automation means the truck is capable of both lateral (steering) and longitudinal (acceleration/deceleration) control.

SafetyDirect is the video-based driver safety platform from Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems, featuring a web portal that provides fleet operators with feedback on their fleet and drivers, along with videos of severe events. The new generation of SafetyDirect was recently introduced by Bendix.

The fifth-generation platform powers the integration with Detroit Assurance 5.0, enabling the wireless transmission of high-resolution video to the SafetyDirect web portal for fleet operators to analyze. Video is generated by DTNA’s front-facing camera, which comes standard with Detroit Assurance 5.0; an optional driver-facing camera is also available. Fleets can select SafetyDirect with either configuration. Both cameras continuously record high-resolution video and will capture severe events.

Transmission to the SafetyDirect web portal happens via the Detroit Connect suite of connected vehicle services provided by DTNA.SafetyDirect is integrated with Detroit Connect, allowing the system to be activated upon truck delivery. Fleets can order now, with production starting later in 2019.

“Fleets are becoming increasingly aware of the power of data and the tremendous value it can bring to their safety efforts,” said TJ Thomas, Bendix director of marketing and customer solutions – controls. “SafetyDirect captures this wealth of data generated by today’s advanced safety systems—including high-resolution video footage, for which there is no substitute when examining a severe event – and serves it up for fleets to use as needed.”

“The enhancements we’ve made to Detroit Assurance have the potential to make an immediate, measurable and positive impact on overall North American road safety,” said Kelly Gedert, director of product marketing for Freightliner and Detroit. “Bendix’s newest generation of its proven SafetyDirect platform helped us to raise the bar with this safety suite.”

Throughout 2019, Bendix expects to roll out the SafetyDirect processor platform’s new features and functionality, including a mobile app, in phases. SafetyDirect is also available today in the Bendix Retrofit Upgrade Program.